Any way to copy all CD content locally to avoid having to insert it?

[Red Squirrel]

I noticed when I use apt-get install in Debian it asks for the CD, I like the idea in a way as why use my bandwidth if I don't have to, and at least I don't have to worry about internet availability to install something through apt. Only thing is it's kinda annoying to login to the DRAC to mount the CD each time. Can I copy the CD locally and have it somehow read the files there? Is it as simple as just copying the content's of the CDs, or are they encoded in some special way? Or can I just copy the ISOs directly and then just mount them to /media/cdrom?

 

[Crusty]

dd if=/dev/cdrom of=/path/to/debian_installer.iso <-- creates the ISO file(change paths obviously)

mount /path/to/debian_installer.iso /media/cdrom -o loop <-- run whenever you want to use the disc, unmount as usual.

 

[Nothinman]

I haven't done it myself, but I know there are multiple docs on how to setup your own apt mirror which is probably what you want to do.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Mounting with -o loop worked. I had totally forgot about that functionality, that is actually pretty neat.